Nicole was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease in March 2004 and underwent chemotherapy and radiation. When she started losing her hair, she was afraid of what the other kids would say and think about her. But she was overwhelmed by their response.

"My school was great. There's not enough words to describe how touched I am by just the care that they've given me," she wrote. Her best friend created lavender ribbons that everyone could wear to show support and former track teammates made their motto: "We run for Nicole." After being diagnosed, her friends and teachers encouraged her to continue running for student body president...and she was elected!

"I want to thank everyone with something really special. I would love to surprise my school with a concert by Avril Lavigne. Everyone here loves her music." Nicole explains, "She's a 19-year-old who talks about real issues and, here I am, a 17-year-old who has a pretty real issue to talk about."